Chapter 9 chapter eight

It was cloudy.At the foot of the mountain, through the layers of mist rising in the drizzle and the smoke from the incense altar, Manco looked at Dumen Bangba's palace and houses.In the very center of the square in front of the Temple of the Sun, a chaotic crowd of dignitaries clustered around the coffin filled with sacred feathers that housed the mummy of the one and only King, Vanya Kapac. Beside the coffin, at the top of the temple steps, the statue of the Twin Brothers shone. If they could, after a day of endless running, the finish line they would reach was next to the statue. But that place seemed far away, out of reach!

"No, it's not that far," Paul said beside him, seeming to guess what his brother was thinking. "It's not far for you, Manco, as long as you are strong enough..." He smiled, stopped talking, then thumped Manco's armpit, teasingly said: "But seriously, your legs are a bit short! Well... I'll wait for you!" Manco smiled.In fact, he was twice as fast as Paul.However, they always try to run together.They were born on the same month, and their relationship is very good. They were both sons of the Inca king Vanya Capac, almost by the same birth, but their friendship did not stem from their birthdays: for there are more sons of a single king than there are stars in the sky.

In fact, they had never met the One King, and had no memory of him at all.The mothers of the two were also noblemen of the Cusco tribe, but the king abandoned them and moved to Quito, where he spent spring nights with three thousand beauties from the northern harem. . Their mothers worked together to raise them.For a long time, since they became sensible, Manco and Paul have been like two fingers that have never been separated. Paul lightly stroked Manco's shoulder and said firmly and confidently: "You're going to win, I know. Me, I'm going to win too, because I'm not leaving you! Now, let's go! It's time for the chicha splashes and worship."

Priests light a fire in front of the ancient tomb of Yanawank, the ancestor of the clan who was transformed into a stone, as in his birthplace of Cuzco, who was known to run and dive Be as fast as an owl. Manco barely opened his eyes, he was starving and his stomach was sick.From the tired faces and red-threaded black eyes of the other competitors, he guessed they were just as sleepy and restless as he was. However, all people hold their heads high, and no one is willing to expose their shortcomings. Through bursts of pungent smoke, they vaguely saw the familiar figures of several uncles.The race is about to begin, but before that, the whipping ceremony must be passed.The uncle of each new contestant whips the future warriors to teach them the importance of the king's law, which they should abide by for life.

Manco feared this moment more than the race itself, but he was not afraid of the pain, but the pain of shame in his heart. Fortunately his uncle was not very strong: when he and the other elders flogged the competitors, he only lightly brushed Manco's arms and thighs with the whip. He stood up, smiling shyly, an embarrassed smile. "I'm not 15," he thought, "and I'm stronger than him, stronger than anyone." He should have believed what his brother said.He should be as confident as Paul.Today, he must win. When the race started and the horn sounded all over the valley and even into the creeks at the foot of the mountain, Manco pulled out all the stops.He forgot his troubles and fatigue, forgot about the arduous race schedule and the biting cold rain, and only thought about the thrill of running in his heart.

Like a swift, strong, happy and free puma, he ran down the first slope with ease.He would have screamed with joy if he hadn't had to keep breathing. The race starts from the due north: after passing a short slope, the contestants must then climb up to the top of a black mountain and pass through a seemingly flat hill, but there is a danger of falling rocks. Every step in the process is extremely difficult.But the fun has just begun, and the next leg of the journey is headed west, down another long, slightly sloping hillside, before arriving at the foot of Wanna Kori Mountain, which is protected by the supreme god Apu.If the contestants successfully climb to the top and run down the slope smoothly, there is still a circular track waiting for them near the Sun Temple Plateau, and then they have to run up the ravine that is full of virgins watching the race. Run to the hill at the starting point.

Paul followed him all the time, inseparable.On the slopes of the first few sections, the two easily beat most of the runners, but on that section of Shi Leilei's hill, a sudden fatigue caused them to gradually fall behind other competitors.Coupled with the sudden gust of wind, a large amount of raindrops were sprinkled on the face, which was more uncomfortable than the whipping of the uncles just now. Manco soon found himself short of breath, his lungs burning, his legs stiff.He heard Paul's powerful exhalation fading away, as far away as an echo swallowed by a great valley, and even the cries of the elders who followed them, urging them to run forward, disappeared.Now his body was a nagging enemy.

He turned around and saw Paul making a grimace—eyeballs protruding, mouth wide open, beckoning him to run, not to wait for him... Then, a few steps ahead, a large group of northern tribal boys suddenly appeared.Manco guessed that there must be a disdainful look from Gujapa, who was the bravest and fastest runner of all the competitors. Such indignation instead encouraged him to quicken his pace, completely ignoring the discomfort caused by the small stones slipping into the soles of his feet from the seams of the straw shoes. Soon, his breathing was smooth again, and he knew he had won the battle again.Chasing after Guapa, he galloped deftly over the stones with both feet.

Manco forgot the scorching heat that tore his skin like a flame and the smoldering flame in his chest, he forgot the pain in his body, and he just wanted to rush forward, as if his soul had become an independent force. Soon, he was about to rush up the path that only allowed two people to go side by side, and catch up with Guapa head-on. They stood side by side, gritted their teeth, yelled with equal effort, and compared each other's speed.Afterwards, Guyappa conceded defeat, his shoulders collapsed, his entire face was thrown back, and his hands struggling in the air were slowly lowered...

At the moment when Manco overtook him, Guapa was still trying to maintain the lead, but his center of gravity was unstable and his elbow hit Manco.For an instant, the young prince felt he had missed nothing, and it was only later that he regained his composure and continued to run. Almost involuntarily, he let out a triumphant cry that echoed from stone to stone. Guapa was out of reach for him. Manco rushed forward all the way, guessing that other people should be far behind him at this moment, including Paul. Despite his vows, it is a pity that he still cannot catch up with his brother.But Manco has confidence in him, he will never be like the gang of laggards in shameful black shorts...

Having reached the top of the mountain rising among the boulders, Manco ran down the slope.He continued to quicken his pace and rush forward. He stared at the next mountain, and what he saw made him very excited.At this time he is the only human in the world of stones, insects and creatures. "I am the wind, I am the rain, and I am the light." He felt as if he had descended from heaven, and behind every boulder there was a friendly look watching him, this kind of look was everywhere, a look he had long been familiar with. Oddly, when the race seemed endless, his breathing became even and he slowed down on the few slopes leading up to Wanakore.The path up the mountain narrows along a steep cliff until there is nothing left but a dizzying winding path that winds around the rock's edge. Manco has a fear of heights.He knew that steep slopes that were too high would make him sick, that he wouldn't know where to go, that he wouldn't be able to take a step.But he is mentally prepared, and he will work hard to overcome this terrifying moment that will make his heart tremble. Hey, it's a pity that when faced with a disaster, he still lost his sense of propriety, and he ran around blindly. As if he had seen himself rolling down the mountain with the falling rocks, his feet were shaking.A chill ran up his spine, cooling his entire back.Every time he took a step forward, his eyes became more blank, he was confused and dizzy, almost smiling, like the call of death. Manco then clings to the rock, clasping his hands on it, clinging to the edge. Right there, there are still a few steps away. He only needs to go around a rock top to reach the path paved on the side of the big slope of the grassland... But in order to get there, he still needs to overcome the cliff and the hesitation in his heart. Acknowledge its existence. He couldn't take it anymore. Sweat drenched the whole body, and the raindrops and tears have long been indistinguishable.Around him, there were some voices floating in the mist: the wailing of those victims, like pleading for help, and like encouraging. When he passed Guapa with all his strength, the latter tore his throat and said with a sneer: "Manco! Manco! You're sure to fall down the valley, without even the support of the Black Shorts! You're nothing but a coward, descended from Cuzco!" Guapa was right. Cowardice had indeed overcome his courage just now; shame had indeed concealed his competitiveness just now.He can stand here with his hands down until night falls.His shattered body will be found at the foot of the steep slope.For him, nothing matters.Where had the voice of his ancestors gone?Where did his most steadfast self-confidence go? He has nothing now but terror.His heart beat faster than a hummingbird's wings. "Manco!" It was Paul's familiar voice.He didn't need to ask much to understand the meaning. "Give me your hand..." Manco did as he was told.His limbs trembled, and he stepped back step by step until he reached the hill where his brother was waiting for him. "Breathe in slowly. Let me come, let me run ahead of you, let me make the way for you." Paul ran ahead of him, stepping over the rock that held him back. "Come here, now." "I can't do it." "If I can do it, you can do it too." If I can do it, you can too.It is this sentence that has bound them together since childhood, and this sentence has made them spiritual twins. Guided by his younger brother's voice, although he couldn't hear what he said, Manco moved forward inch by inch.The moment he lost his balance, he felt like he had given up completely and fell straight down... Paul reached out and grabbed his wrist. "Don't go, brother." Above them, not far from the summit, Manco saw several runners passing them.At this critical stage, Paul leaves no room for self-pity: "Dear brother, run! Run, you are the best player, I am proud of you." "You are wrong, I am the most cowardly..." "You are brave and strong, Manco, and you have a brother who loves you and will always help you... Run and win for us both!" After recovering, he dried his rain-soaked eyes. "I am the wind..." he thought, lifting his double granite feet... Running up the ravine, he overtook the competitors who had passed him when he was weak.He wants to forget the pain in his body and hide his shame deep in his heart.He gritted his teeth and sprinted forward. He ran, pictured in his mind the eagle-like pride of winning the championship, and watched the others, all the others, reaching the finish line exhausted. It would be a mysterious pleasure to watch Guapa in disarray, who had just passed him head-on, and this time he didn't even look at him. He ran as if he didn't need to breathe.He vaguely saw a path in front of him, on one side stood the group of virgins cheering for them, and on the other side was a ravine.The people danced with him under his running, the mountains, clouds, and bushes also danced, and even the valleys danced in his exhalation.Although he is intoxicated by the race, he still runs like the wind... "Be careful!" The cry and the sound of the snake frightened him at the same time.On the road, there was an arm-thick, grayish-yellow venomous snake standing in front of him. "Be careful!" the voice repeated, with a peculiar gentleness, but softer than before. So he looked at her.She approached the big poisonous snake swaying from side to side, with its bloody mouth wide open and its sharp fangs exposed, from behind. "Don't move!" said the little girl. Manco held his breath, his eyes wide open.How could it be such a color? It is blue, bluer than the southern sky.Is she really a girl of flesh and blood? But Manco puts his mind to it.He watched her crouch slowly, her strange eyes fixed on the poisonous snake.Afterwards, the poisonous snake's head dodged from side to side, tensely huddling up in an attacking state. Instinctively, Manco crouched down, picked up a stone, and held it in his hand. "Throw away the stone," said the girl, without looking at him. "let me." Her voice is calm and confident.She insisted, and it never occurred to him to disobey her.She looked at the snake, stared at the gradually expanding scales on its body, and then slowly, slowly squatted down... The snake curled up and coiled into a ring. There was a sound of running behind, of Guapa's footsteps reaching the slope, but the snake paid no attention.As if being wiped from the ground, it burrowed into the pile of stones. The blue-eyed girl stood up again with a smile, her bright eyes lit up the entire dark green mountain. "The road is clear!" she said happily. Manco figured that Guapa must be stopping, watching them.He hesitated, and she encouraged him with action. He started again and went straight to Dumen Bangba Square, as if all the pain in his body had disappeared. But when he reached the finish line and was cheered by the elders on the hill, he collapsed to the ground and was in a semi-comatose state.He seemed to be completely submerged in the great blue sea reflected in the eyes of the strange woman who had brought him all the way here.